Promotion using free supplies
Free supplies were restricted by the International Code and were finally banned in all parts of the health care system by the World Health Assembly in 1994 (Resolution WHA47.5). Despite the ban companies continue to use free supplies as a means of promoting their products. Giving bottles to newborns interferes with lactation. If a mother stops producing milk she has to purchase the companys products once she leaves the hospital and it is no longer free. IBFAN has campaigned on this issue for many years and has raised awareness of the promotional nature of free supplies.
Companies that belong to the International Association of Infant food Manucaturers (IFM) pledged as far back as 1991 to work towards the goal of ending free and low-cost supplies. Yet IBFANs Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules monitoring reports show that this promotional strategy remains common. Donations of follow-up formula and complementary foods have also been taking place.
Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2004 gives various examples, such as:
Hipp donated unsolicited supplies of its infant formula to health facilities in Armenia. In its home country of Germany it placed free supplies of follow-on formula in doctors waiting rooms, as many as 20 packs at a time.
Companies see providing boxes of free formula (such as this Mead Johnson
Enfalac A+ in Thailand) as an investment. |
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Nestle is reported providing free supplies of Lactogen 1 infant formula and other formulas to health facilities in Thailand. Mothers are given free samples and even gift packs such as that shown left. Nestle claims it stopped such practices in 1993. |
In Indonesia, NUMICOs free supplies of Nutrilon 1 to a maternity pictured here
were passed on to mothers after delivery. |
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In Norway promotion of artificial infant feeding does not occure and 98% of mothers leave hospital breastfeeding. After 3 months 90% are still doing so.
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